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UK News

Church of Scotland names first Arts Minister

Rev Peter Gardner hopes that his new role will help reach out to the city growing arts scene.

Rev Peter has been a minister for the Church of Scotland for the past 20 years. He has combined his church work with his arts practice which creates arts pieces in worship spaces.

In an interview Rev Peter said: "So much of the Christian faith has been based around words. In John, we are told 'The word became flesh and moved among us' and yet we have returned our experience of God to word again. For much of our culture, images are really important and people think visually."

Referring to a 2014 art installation at the Renfield St Stephen's Parish Church, where a crown of thorns was created using wool and knitting needles, Rev Peter explained that the artwork brought in people who were previously uninterested in religious life. He said: "We had an amazing response. People wandered in to the church as if to a gallery. They said things like 'I've never come into a church but I'm coming back.' or 'I've never thought about the crown of thorns like that.'"

The role of Arts Minister is one of five new positions created by the Church of Scotland posts to explore what faith can mean to people in different parts of society. Other posts will serve students, the farming community and areas of deprivation.

Rev Peter concluded: "This is a way of offering support and care to people who the church hasn't had much of a conversation with over the last few years. We're looking beyond where the Church normally encounters people. It's quite challenging and very exciting."

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